Apparatus for crystallization and the like



April 11, 1950 l. MERLIS 2,504,033

APPARATUS FOR CRYSTALLIZATION AND Tl-IE LIKE Filed Nov. 6, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 11, 1950 1. MERLIS 2,504,033

APPARATUS FOR CRYSTALLIZATION AND THE LIKE Filed Nov. 6, 1947 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Apr. 11, 1950 APPARATUS FOR CRYSTALLIZATION AND THE LIKE Ira Merlis, Whitemarsh, Pa., assignor to Acme Coppersmithing & Machine Company, Oreland,

Pa., a partnership Application November 6, 1947, Serial No. 784.461

The invention of which the following is a detailed description relates to novel apparatus for crystallization and the like. In a broad sense the apparatus is adapted for effecting heat transfer whether it be away from or into thematerial being treated.

. In effecting the crystallization of sugar and like material from saturated solutions, the rapidity of the operation is greatly enhanced if some means is provided to overcome the normally poor heat conductivity of the saturated solution. If a saturated solution or liquor containing sugar, organic salts, inorganic salts or like material is subjected solely to cooling or heating effects from the areas surrounding the mass, crystallization occurs very slowly and is localized at first in the areas immediately adjacent to the walls of the container. Moreover, the crystallization is a matter of slow grain growth and the individual crystals are few and large rather than small and many.

In the transfer of heat into a magmaof crystals, solution occurs in the same manner by reason of the poor conductivity of the heat into the mass.

It is an object of my invention to provide means for efiecting heat transfer uniformly throughout a saturated solution or a loose mass of crystals in order that a finer grained product is obtained uniformly throughout the mass and in a rapid manner.

It is a further object of my invention to hasten the heat transfer effect by rapidly moving the transfer elements through the solution or magma and thus maintain the latter in motion which will bring all of its portions into close proximity to the heat transfer devices.

It is a still further object of my invention to utilize the moving heat transfer devices for speeding up the crystallization by agitation. In this way the initial or seed crystals will be rapidly carried throughout the entire solution and evenly distributed. When combined with the agitation this effects the rapid production of crystals of the desired fineness.

Furtherobjects of my invention will be apparent from the following description of the preferred form of the invention as shown on the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of the heat exchange device taken on the line ll of Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section of the same taken on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary transverse section on an enlarged scale of the mode of attachment between the coils and shaft as seen on the plane of Fig. l.

Briefly described the improvedmechanism consists of a tank or similar vessel in which an agitator is rotated. The agitatorextends throughout 5 Claims. (Cl. 25779) heating medium which is thus brought in contact with the entire contents of the tank. The agitator is also provided with sections serving to direct the material longitudinally of the tank and thus promote better heat exchange.

On Fig. 1 I have shown base members l which form footings for the tank 5. As shown in Fig.

2, tank 5 has a semi-cylindrical bottom 6 resting upon the base members 4. Ends I and 8 are provided for the tank.

Each end of the tank has a central end bearing 9 which is carried within a stuffing box [0.

Centrally disposed in the tank and in alignment with the end bearings is a center bearing H mounted upon a cross beam l'2.

A shaft I3 is carried on the center and end bearings and adapted for rotation. One section of the shaft 13 extends out of the end 1 and carries a large gear l4. On a bracket l5 there is mounted a cross shaft 16 carrying a worm gear I! enmeshed with the gear Hi. The cross shaft 16 has a pulley l8 keyed thereon and driven by a belt l9 or other motive power.

The shaft It has central passageways 20 in the ends of the sections. The passageway in the section which extends through the end I is connected to an inlet pipe 2! by which the heat exchange medium is supplied in either liquid or gaseous form. At the opposite end 8 the corresponding hollow shaft section connects with an outlet 22 for the spent heat exchange medium.

Centrally of the shaft and within the bearing I l the sections also have axial passageways which are in registry.

Each section of the shaft l3 carries a heat flanged connections 26 to the shaft in such a manner as to communicate with the hollow pas:

sageways in the shaft sections. The intermediate coil portions 2! are bent into right-angular The adjacent loops thus joined each form a" unit 23.

As these units are connected at op posite ends to the shaft sections, this forms a continuous passageway for the circulation of the heat exchange fluid- Reinforcing cross bars 3 are mounted at the ends of the loops and form a rigid connection therebetween. The cross bar is connected by U-bolts 3'] itoione of fthezloopsectiOns;

The right=angled coil portions 2'l' 'in'turn'are clamped rigidly against the hollow shaft l3 in the manner shown in Fig. 3. Thus a plate 32 iss welded or otherwise engaged to thebend of the.

coil. A U-bolt 33 fits around the hollow shaft and is welded or otherwise fastened to the latter.

The ends of the bolt 33 pass throughr the .plate':

32 and thus clamp the latter tightly against the shaft.

In the preferred form I have.shown'twoope-- positely directed helical coil sections. They are mounted on the shaft sections on opposite sides of the center bearing 5 I They are also directed oppositelyrso; that: the; agitatiorrigiverr the contents-inf the tanleiwilllhen'otxonly ClIClll'Ilfl-Qllw tial lout also'i'linwardly: totth'e :center point ain the This serves constantly to bring: freshnnaterial':againstzthe' vertic'aluplanezof the centerihearing'r.

outem'walls of the: tank and: promotes sheat exchangeioyradiation.

l/Vhenirthettank- ZiS 'fille diwith ax-saturated sclu tion;of crystallizable substancezand a cooling; fluid pumped through the coils;. the fluidicoels theai coils assit,ienters from. thexend E. The fluid passes throughithe coils-andpu-t through the hollow: passages at t thes center :-bearing and. then traversesthe coil loops-ofthetsecond coil. sec-' tion. Finally the spent; cooling fluid, is discharged-through wtheroutlet- 22; By: the slow rotation f theiagitatingloops thezmaterial is kept intmotion and .all 'parts su-bjected to the coolingeffect;

This results in. a. uniform cooling .1 effect throughout. the solution Crystallization takes place rapidlyand by-reasonof the'agitation .the individual crystals are-:of thedesirecl: fineness.

The heat exchange may, however, work in the opposite direction for the purpose of imparting heat rapidly and uniformly to a stiff magma which it is desired to heat in order to reduce its viscosity and facilitate the separation of the crys-- tals. from the mother liquor. In this instance the effectof uniform and rapid heating prevents the.

agglomeration .of the crystals.

While I have shownthe preferred form of my invention thereare many. changes in meredetails of structure, proportion, and materials which maybe carried out without departing from the scope of the inventionas defined in thefol lowing claims.

What I claim .is:

1., Apparatus for heatlexchange comprising a tank, bearings in the ends of the tank, a shaft journaled in thebearingameans for. rotating.

the shaft, a plurality of pipes having straight sections bent at their mid'portions for attachment to. the shaft at the points'of bending; the adjacent pipe sections being, angularly'spaced apart to form a helix and'the-ends of'the'pipe' sectionsbeing connected to formloops; termi-' nal pipes radially mounted on the shaft and connectedto the adjacent pipesection's', the shaft ends having axial passagewayscommunicating with the terminal pipe sections; and: means ,for' conducting aafluid heat-exchange medium: from; end to'endiofith 'rshaft andiithroughthe pipes.v

2. Apparatus for'heat exchangecomprising;a tan-k, bearings inthe ends; of thetank, a shaft journaled in the bearings, means for rotating. the shaft, a plurality of pipes having straight sections bent at their mid portionsfor, attachement to the shaft .at the pointslof. bending, the

3; Apparatus for heat exchange comprising a tank, bearings in the ends of the tank, a shaft journaled in the bearings, means for rotating the shaft, a plurality of. pipes having straight sections zbentiat their: 'midxportions for attach menttoxtheishaft at' the points of bending, theadjacent. pipe sections: being angularly spaced-.1. apart'to form a helix and the ends of the pipe. sections being connected to form loops, terminal.

pipes radially mounted on the shaft;andicon-; nected .totheiadjacent pipe sections, a'rigid bar clamped torthe outerends of the loops, the shaft' endshaying axial passageways communicating: with theterminal'pipes .andrneans foriconducting a fluid'h'eatexchange medium'from endto;

end :ofzthe "shaft and through thepipes.

4..Apparatusfor cooling a solution comprisingksastank; bearingsiin the ends of the tank, a. centerbearingtaligned with said end bearings, a: sectional. shaft; having one" end journaled ,be+- tweenv the 'center bearing and each end bearing:v means .for rotating-theshaft, a plurality of pipes;

havingi'straight sections bent at their midporpoints'aofibending, the adjacent pipe sections be? ing angul'arlyspa'cedxapartto. form a helix :and

the endsioffthe -'pipe'sections being connected to form-loops; terminal pipesiradially mounted'on =th'e:shaitand connected tothe adjacentpipe sec= tions; the ends of the shaft sections'having axial passagewaysscommunicating with" the terminal pipes; thGihellGGS'FOf' each shaft section being" oppositely directed and means for conducting:

a cooling ,fiuidi fromendto end of theshaftand through'rboth helices;

5:- Apparatus for heat exchange comprising a; tank gbearin'gs.rirrathe ends of thetank, a shaft". journaledjn ,thebearings, means for'rotating the 2 ishaft, a plurality of pipes'h'aving' straight sectionsrbent'at their mid zportions; clamping means foriholding'saidimid portions'tothe shaft'at the:

points of bending,"the'adjacentpipe sections be ingiangularly' spaced apart to form-a .helix and 1 the endsofrthe ppipe sectionsibeing 'connected' to form: loops, terminal pipes-radially mounted on theishaft and connected to the adjacent pipe sec-- tions, the shaft ends having axial passageways communicating with: the terminal pipes and means fonconductin'ga'fluidheat exchange me-- dium from. end:.to end ofrthe shaftlandz' through:

the pipes.

IRA MERLIS,

REFERENCES CITED The followingreferences are'oi record'in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES" PATENTS 7 1 Number Name. Date.- 736,875 Ragot etal Aug. 18, 1903- 2,186,234.. Boyd, Jan. 9, 1940.. 2,i53,'7l8 Masonetal Nov. 16,1948

:,;tions for: attachment .to eachshaft section at the.

Stafford ..J an. 4,..1949I. 

